An Angel with a Golden Censer Revelation 8:3

As John the apostle continued to share about the “tribulation” that was to come upon the earth, he told about the first six seals Jesus removed from the “scroll” in God's right hand. He began to write concerning the events that unfolded when Jesus, “had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour. And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets.” In chapter eight and verse three John saw “another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer” where we read:

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.

The verse reads, “And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer;” John began with the words, “and another angel” which means “an other messenger, envoy or one who is sent” “came” or “to come from one place to another, appear, arise and showed himself” “and stood” which means “was made firm, established and fixed” “at the altar” which refers to “before God's holy place of sacrifices and offerings”, “having” or “holding, owning and possessing” “a golden censer” which means “a container for burning incense”. John saw this other “angel” with a “container for burning incense” made of gold.

The verse continues, “and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne.” John added the words, “and there was given” which means “and it was granted, bestowed, supplied and furnished” “unto him” which means “to the other angel” “much incense” or “a lot and large amount of an aromatic substance burnt”, “that he should offer it” or “so the angel grant, bestow, supply and furnish the incense” “with the prayers” which refers to “alongside the earnest orations and worship” “of all” or “pertaining to each, every, the whole and everyone of the” “saints” which refers to “the pure, morally blameless and religiously and ceremonially consecrated” “upon the golden altar” or “”on the God's holy place of sacrifices and offerings made of God” “which was before” which means “that was in the presence and towards” “the throne” or “the chair of state having a footstool which was assigned to kings and therefore showing kingly power or royalty”. John saw how a lot of “incense” was “given” to this other “angel” so he could present it to God along with the “prayers and worship” of all those who believe and trust in Him.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we can imagine how he wondered at the sight of this other “angel” standing before God's throne who received a golden container in which he burned incense along with the “orations and worshiping” of God's “saints”. God has a great design and plan for people, and He desires for them to be in a relationship with Him through His Son Jesus Christ. These “saints'” or “believers' prayers” are heard by God, and this “angel” was responsible to present them to God with a “golden censer”. God desires to hear the prayers of His “saints”, so pray and receive His Son Jesus as “Savior and Lord” today.

Next time John shares how “the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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